Gas valve assembly for oil wells



May 5; 1952 L..O. wHARToN, JR

` GAS vALvEAssEMBLY FOR oIL WELLS Filed June 20, 1949 Ihwentol' (ttorneg Ill it?? PE L Patented May 6, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR OIL WELLS Leonard 0. Wharton, Jr., Fort Worth, Tex. Application June 2o, 1949, seriai No. 100,173

(Cl. 16S-2) 3 Claims. -l

This inventionrelates to the production of oil from beneath the earths surface, and has reference to the use of gas pressure for raising or assisting in raising oil in the tubing of an oil well.

An object of the invention is to maintain gas pressure within the well casing, as required in many states for conserving natural gas. Maintaining the gas pressure within the casing also prevents the coning of salt water in production areas where salt water lies beneath the oil. If the gas pressure were not controlled, the velocity of the gas entering the lower end of the well bore would not only lift part of the oil, but would raise or cone the salt water into the well bore or casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dependable and positive acting apparatus for regulating and automatically controlling the entry of gas from within the well casing or well bore into the well tubing for raising or assisting the raising of oil therein. It is to be understood that the present invention may be employed for owing wells where the gas pressure is adequate, or may be used in conjunction with pumping a well when the gas pressure is insufficient for raising the oil to the earths surface.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an oil well and showing an embodiment of the invention installed therein.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of a iiow pipe and valve, together with means for operating said valve.

Figure 3 is an elevation of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective View of the valve mechanism illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional View, similar to Figure 4, but illustrating a different type `of valve.

Figure '7 is a vertical sectional view of the valve illustrated in Figure 6.

The numeral IU indicates a well casing extending beneath the earths surface and above the oil bearing formation. Within the casing I0 there is a string of tubing II extending to the earths surface where the usual casing head assembly (not shown) controls the outlet of oil from the said tubing, and additionally retains gas under pressure within the casing. The static level of the oil I2, as shown in Figure 1,

' I4 is provided with an integral lateral projection I5 for securing the upper end of a standpipe I6. It will be noted in Figure 1 that there is a vent hole l1 in the standpipe I6 near the upper end thereof.

Referring now to Figures 1 through 5, a flow pipe I8 is connected within the string of tubing II above the perforated pipe I4 and below the collar I3 having the lateral projection I5. The W pipe I8 is constricted near its center and has a relatively small passage I9 therethrough. A rotatable valve element 20 having a transverse port 2 I therethrough is arranged for opening and closing the restricted passage I9. Bosses 22 at the upper and lower ends of the ow pipe I8 receive screws 23 which, in turn, secure a diaphragm housing 24 opposite and parallel with the length of said fiow pipe I8. As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the diaphragm housing 24 is provided with threads 25 at its upper end for receiving and securing the lower `end of the standpipe I6. The diaphragm housing 24 is provided with a diaphragm 26 opposite the ow pipe I8, and which diaphragm is substantially parallel with the length of the latter. The diaphragm 26 covers an opening 21 in the diaphragm housing 24, and in the preferred form of the invention is longer than it is wide so as to provide sufficient area when acted upon by hydraulic pressure to the housing 24, and is secured by means of an elongated ring 28 riveted or otherwise secured in place. A backing plate 30, smaller than the opening 2l, is provided on the inner surface of the diaphragm 26; and a reinforcing plate 3|, also smaller than the opening 21 is positioned on the outer surface of said diaphragm, the two plates being riveted or otherwise secured together with such rivet means or the like passing through said diaphragm.

On opposing outer surfaces of the flow pipe I8 there are projecting, vertically disposed, ribs 32 which support leaf springs 33 which, in turn, bear against the outer surface of the reinforcing plate 3| and tend to move the diaphragm 26 inwardly into the diaphragm housing 24. Vertical projections 34 on opposite sides of the reinforcing plate 3l are pivotally connected with links 35 which are similarly connected at their opposite ends with cranks 36 secured to opposite ends of the valve element 20.

Referring now to the modined valve arrangement illustrated in Figures 6 and '7, the reinforcing plate 3l is provided at one side with a single projection 31 instead of the vertical ribs 34. The lower end of tubing Il above the present form of valve is of reduced diameter, as at 38, where it rotatably receives a collar 39. Complementary openings 40 and il are respectively provided in the tubing Il and the collar 39 for registering with each other. A projection 42 on one side of the collar 39 is pivotally connected with one end of a link 43, the opposite end of which is similarly connected with the previousllT described projection 31 on the reinforcing plate 3l. A threaded collar 44 is secured on the lower end of tubing l I having the reduced diameter 38, retains the rotatable collar 39 in its described position, and a bull plug 45 closes the end of said tubing.

The operation of the rst described form of the invention includes positioning the flow pipe I8 beneath the lowest normal static level of the oil I2 in the casing is, after rst substantially filling the standpipe ifi with oil or other liquid. As the oil within the casing i3 rises, the pressure thereof moves the diaphragm 23 inwardly and, by reason of described linkage 35 and 33, communicates the port 2l of the valve element Eil with the constricted passage i9. The gas pressure within the casing I and well formation then forces the oil upwardly into the upper string of tubing Il. When the static level oi the oil S2 in the casing la falls, the weight of the liquid within the standpipe I overcomes the pressure of the spring 33 and moves the diaphragm 26 outwardly. The outward movement of the diaphragm turns the valve element 26, and thereby causes the port 2 I to be closed.

The operation of the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 6 and '7 is substantially the same as described in the foregoing except that the collar a9 is partially rotated when the diaphragm 25 is moved inwardly causing the ports 4I in said collar `to register with ports 40 and thereby providing for the entry of oil into the tubing li. When the static level of the oil I2 falls, the pressure within the standpipe I6 moves the diaphragm 245 outwardly, and thus closes the ports in the tubing I l.

The described forms of the invention may be made in many ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A valve assembly for operation :beneath the lowermost static level of oil in a well having a string of tubing therein, said assembly comprising: a iiow pipe adapted to be connected with said string of tubing and including a pas-sage therethrough communicating said tubing above said flow pipe with said oil, a rotatable valve element mounted in said iow pipe and positioned across passage for opening and closing the same, an elongated housing positioned substantially parallel with and spaced from one side of said ow pipe, means rigidly securing said housing to said iiow pipe, a vertical standpipe connected with said housing, said standpipe including an CII opening through its upper end, a diaphragm assembly mounted in an opening in the side of said housing adjacent said ow pipe, means between said diaphragm and the last said opening providing a fluid excluding seal therebetween, at least one link connecting said diaphragm with said valve element, and means pressing the diaphragm assembly inwardly of said housing for displacing a part of the volume within said standpipe.

2. A valve assembly for operation beneath the lowermost static level of oil in a well having a string oi tubing therein, said assembly comprising: a low pipe adapted to be connected with said string of tubing and having a choke passage formed and through its axial center, a rotatable valve element mounted in said iiow pipe and transversely positioned across said choke passage and extending on opposite sides of said flow pipe, cranks secured to the outer ends of said valve element, a housing positioned substantially parallel with and spaced from one side or" said iiow pipe, means rigidly securing said housing to said fiow pipe, a vertical standpipe connected with said housing, said standpipe including an opening through the upper end thereof, a diaphragm mounted in an opening in the side of said housing adjacent said flow pipe, means between said diaphragm and the last said opening providing a fluid excluding seal therebetween, parallel links connecting the outer surface of said diaphragm with said cranks, and means pressing the diaphragm assembly inwardly of said housing for displacing a part of the volume within said standpipe.

3. A valve assembly for operation beneath the lowermost static level oi oil in a well having a string of tubing therein, said assembly comprising: a flow pipe adapted to be connected with said string of tubing and having a choke passage therethrough, a rotatable valve element supported by said iiow pipe and transversely positioned across said choke passage and extending outwardly of at least one side of said iiow pipe, a crank secured to said extending end of said valve element, a housing positioned substantially parallel with and spaced from one side of said flow pipe, means rigidly securing said housing to said iiow pipe, a vertical standpipe connected with said housing, said standpipe including an opening in the upper enol thereof, a diaphragm mounted in an opening in the side of said housing adjacent said flow pipe, means between said diaphragm and the last said opening providing a huid excluding seal therebetween, a link connecting the outer surface of said diaphragm assembly with said crank, and means pressing the diaphragm assembly inwardly of said housing for displacing a part of the volume within said standpipe.

LEONARD O. WHARTON, JR.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Griswold Nov. l, 1932 Number 

